234 THE BUTTERFLY VIVARIUM. 



here recall Livingstone's account of his being seized 

 and torn by a lion, from the attack of which he had 

 a miraculous escape. In describing this affair, he 

 tells us that either the roar of the lion, or some pe- 

 culiar shock communicated by the claws, produced 

 an effect which appeared to prevent his feeling any 

 pain, or even any sense of dread ; and we may 

 thence infer that the ordinary prey of the lion is 

 paralysed by the attack in a similar manner, and 

 that the fascinating glare of the bird-snake equally 

 destroys all sense of pain or terror in the victim ; 

 and also that the larva of the Tiger Beetle is 

 enabled to enjoy his legitimate meal without causing 

 pain to the paralysed victim of his ingenious con- 

 trivance for replenishing his larder. 



The larvaa of another Beetle, Staphylinus Oleics, 

 provides himself with his necessary food in a some- 

 what similar, though more bold and less ingenious 

 manner. He makes a hole some six or eight inches 

 deep, at the entrance of which he takes his post, 

 watching for the approach of his destined dinner. 

 "When the, perhaps long expected, traveller arrives, 

 he darts boldly out, seizes his prey, and drags it to 

 the bottom of the pit, from which there is no 

 escape, even large snails becoming not unfrequcntly 

 his victims. 



